New Mexico Man Accused of Stealing Car Planted by Police

August 7, 2014

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) — A New Mexico man allegedly hopped into a vehicle that wasn’t his, blasting the popular tune “Best Day of My Life” before it became anything but.

Authorities say Drew Mayo, 21, took off in a bait car planted by the Albuquerque Police Department. The car was specifically equipped with a remote kill switch that police could trigger to disable the vehicle if stolen.

Surveillance video from inside the bait car appears to show Mayo entering the car in southeast Albuquerque around 10 P.M. Friday, turning the vehicle on, driving off and smiling while the American Authors’ song plays in the background.

But then the police remotely turned off the vehicle, and Mayo was ordered out of the car by officers.

Mayo was taken into custody and charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, ABC News affiliate KOAT-TV in Albuquerque reported.

The police department has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.

Officials hope that, aside from the video’s comedic nature, it will provide a valuable lesson and deter others from stealing cars.

“If we can take programs such as this to deter individuals from stealing vehicles, that’s mission critical for us,” police Lt. Paul Szych told KOAT. “The deterrent is just as important as the apprehension.”